Heart of Darkness — Page 15

English → De Full Text Level 9/10

"I flew around like mad to get ready, and before forty-eight hours I was crossing the Channel to show myself to my employers, and sign the contract.

„Ich rannte wie verrückt herum, um mich fertigzumachen, und noch vor achtundvierzig Stunden überquerte ich den Kanal, um mich meinen Arbeitgebern vorzustellen und den Vertrag zu unterzeichnen.

In a very few hours I arrived in a city that always makes me think of a whited sepulchre.

In sehr wenigen Stunden kam ich in einer Stadt an, die mich immer an ein übertünchtes Grab denken lässt.

Prejudice no doubt.

Vorurteil, zweifellos.

I had no difficulty in finding the Company's offices.

Ich hatte keine Schwierigkeit, die Büros der Gesellschaft zu finden.

It was the biggest thing in the town, and everybody I met was full of it.

Es war die bedeutendste Einrichtung der Stadt, und jeder, dem ich begegnete, sprach von nichts anderem.

They were going to run an over-sea empire, and make no end of coin by trade.

Sie wollten ein überseeisches Imperium führen und durch den Handel unendlich viel Geld verdienen.

"A narrow and deserted street in deep shadow, high houses, innumerable windows with venetian blinds, a dead silence, grass sprouting between the stones, imposing carriage archways right and left, immense double doors standing ponderously ajar.

„Eine enge und verlassene Straße in tiefem Schatten, hohe Häuser, unzählige Fenster mit Jalousien, eine totenstille, zwischen den Steinen sprießendes Gras, eindrucksvolle Tordurchfahrten rechts und links, gewaltige Doppeltüren, die schwerfällig angelehnt standen.

I slipped through one of these cracks, went up a swept and ungarnished staircase, as arid as a desert, and opened the first door I came to.

Ich schlüpfte durch einen dieser Spälte, stieg eine gefegene und schmucklose Treppe hinauf, so karg wie eine Wüste, und öffnete die erste Tür, die ich erreichte.

Two women, one fat and the other slim, sat on straw-bottomed chairs, knitting black wool.

Zwei Frauen, eine dick und die andere schlank, saßen auf Stühlen mit Strohgeflecht und strickten schwarze Wolle.

The slim one got up and walked straight at me—still knitting with downcast eyes—and only just as I began to think of getting out of her way, as you would for a somnambulist, stood still, and looked up.

Die Schlanke stand auf und kam geradewegs auf mich zu – immer noch strickend mit gesenkten Augen – und erst als ich gerade daran dachte, ihr aus dem Weg zu gehen, wie man es bei einer Schlafwandlerin täte, blieb sie stehen und blickte auf.

Her dress was as plain as an umbrella-cover, and she turned round without a word and preceded me into a waiting-room.

Ihr Kleid war so schlicht wie ein Regenschirmbezug, und sie drehte sich ohne ein Wort um und ging mir in ein Wartezimmer voraus.

I gave my name, and looked about.

Ich nannte meinen Namen und schaute mich um.

Vocabulary

Ich: First person singular pronoun meaning 'I'.
rannte: Past tense of 'rennen'; ran quickly or sprinted.
wie: Conjunction or adverb meaning 'like', 'as', or 'how'.
verrückt: Adjective meaning crazy, mad, or insane.
herum: Adverb meaning around or about a place.
um: Preposition meaning 'around', 'at', or 'in order to'.
mich: Accusative form of 'ich'; reflexive pronoun 'myself' or 'me'.
fertigzumachen: To get oneself ready or to finish preparing completely.
und: Coordinating conjunction meaning 'and'.
noch: Adverb meaning 'still', 'yet', or 'even'.
vor: Preposition meaning 'before', 'in front of', or 'ago'.
achtundvierzig: The number forty-eight.
Stunden: Plural of 'Stunde'; hours as units of time.
überquerte: Past tense of 'überqueren'; crossed over a body of water or road.
ich: First person singular pronoun meaning 'I'.
den: Definite article in accusative masculine case, meaning 'the'.
Kanal: A canal or channel, such as the English Channel.
meinen: Possessive pronoun 'my' in accusative masculine form.
Arbeitgebern: Dative plural of 'Arbeitgeber'; employers or bosses.
vorzustellen: To introduce oneself or present oneself to someone.
Vertrag: A formal contract or written agreement between parties.
zu: Preposition or particle meaning 'to', 'too', or 'at'.
unterzeichnen: To sign a document, contract, or official paper.
In: Preposition meaning 'in', 'into', or 'within'.
sehr: Adverb meaning 'very' or 'much'; intensifier.
wenigen: Adjective meaning 'few' or 'a small number of'.
kam: Past tense of 'kommen'; arrived or came to a place.
in: Preposition meaning 'in', 'into', or 'within'.
einer: Indefinite article in dative feminine form, meaning 'a'.
Stadt: A city or town as a populated urban place.
an: Preposition meaning 'at', 'on', or 'to'.
die: Definite article for feminine nouns or plural; 'the'.
immer: Adverb meaning 'always' or 'ever'.
ein: Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an'.
übertünchtes: Whitewashed or concealing a deteriorated surface underneath.
Grab: A grave or tomb where a dead person is buried.
denken: To think, consider, or reflect on something mentally.
lässt: Third person singular of 'lassen'; lets, allows, or causes.
Vorurteil: A prejudice or bias against someone or something.
zweifellos: Adverb meaning doubtlessly, undoubtedly, or without question.
hatte: Past tense of 'haben'; had or possessed something.
keine: Negative article meaning 'no', 'not any', or 'none'.
Schwierigkeit: A difficulty, trouble, or challenge encountered.
Büros: Plural of 'Büro'; offices or administrative workplaces.
der: Definite article for masculine nominative or genitive feminine.
Gesellschaft: A company, society, or association of people.
finden: To find, locate, or discover something or someone.
Es: Neuter pronoun meaning 'it'; refers to neuter nouns.
war: Past tense of 'sein'; was, existed, or took place.
bedeutendste: Superlative of 'bedeutend'; the most significant or important.
Einrichtung: An institution, establishment, or furnishing of a place.
jeder: Pronoun meaning 'everyone', 'each', or 'every person'.
dem: Dative form of definite article 'der/das'; to the.
begegnete: Past tense of 'begegnen'; met or encountered someone.
sprach: Past tense of 'sprechen'; spoke or talked about something.
von: Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or 'about'.
nichts: Pronoun meaning 'nothing' or 'not anything'.
anderem: Dative form of 'anderes'; other things or something else.
Sie: Pronoun meaning 'they', 'she', or formal 'you'.
wollten: Past tense of 'wollen'; wanted or intended to do something.
überseeisches: Adjective meaning overseas, situated beyond the sea.
Imperium: An empire or domain of imperial power and control.
führen: To lead, manage, or run an organization or mission.
durch: Preposition meaning 'through', 'by means of', or 'via'.
Handel: Trade or commerce involving buying and selling goods.
unendlich: Adjective or adverb meaning infinite, endless, or immense.
viel: Adjective or adverb meaning 'much', 'a lot', or 'many'.
Geld: Money or currency used for purchasing goods and services.
verdienen: To earn money or to deserve something through effort.
Eine: Indefinite article feminine nominative form, meaning 'a'.
enge: Adjective meaning narrow, tight, or confined in space.
verlassene: Adjective meaning abandoned, deserted, or forsaken.
Straße: A street or road in a city or town.
tiefem: Dative form of 'tief'; deep or profound in degree.
Schatten: Shadow or shade cast by blocking a light source.
hohe: Adjective meaning high or tall in stature or height.
Häuser: Plural of 'Haus'; houses or buildings where people live.
unzählige: Adjective meaning countless, innumerable, or very many.
Fenster: Windows in a building that allow light and air.
mit: Preposition meaning 'with' or 'along with'.
Jalousien: Venetian blinds or louvered shutters covering windows.
eine: Indefinite article feminine form meaning 'a' or 'an'.
totenstille: Adjective meaning dead silent or completely quiet.
zwischen: Preposition meaning 'between' or 'among' two or more.
Steinen: Dative plural of 'Stein'; stones or rocks on a surface.
sprießendes: Adjective meaning sprouting or growing upward through cracks.
Gras: Grass growing on the ground or through stone cracks.
eindrucksvolle: Adjective meaning impressive, striking, or commanding great attention.
Tordurchfahrten: Plural of 'Tordurchfahrt'; large gated archway passages through buildings.
rechts: Adverb meaning 'on the right side' or 'to the right'.
links: Adverb meaning 'on the left side' or 'to the left'.
gewaltige: Adjective meaning enormous, mighty, or tremendously large.
Doppeltüren: Plural of 'Doppeltür'; double doors or two-panel doors.
schwerfällig: Adjective meaning ponderous, cumbersome, or moving with great heaviness.
angelehnt: Leaned or propped against something; slightly ajar.
standen: Past tense plural of 'stehen'; stood or were standing.
schlüpfte: Past tense of 'schlüpfen'; slipped or squeezed through a narrow gap.
einen: Indefinite article in accusative masculine form, meaning 'a'.
dieser: Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this' or 'of these'.
Spälte: Narrow gaps or crevices between structures or surfaces.
stieg: Past tense of 'steigen'; climbed or ascended upward.
gefegene: Adjective meaning swept clean, bare, or scoured by wind.
schmucklose: Adjective meaning plain, unadorned, or without any decoration.
Treppe: A staircase or flight of stairs in a building.
hinauf: Adverb meaning 'up' or 'upward' along a surface.
so: Adverb meaning 'so', 'thus', or 'in such a way'.
karg: Adjective meaning sparse, meager, or barren in appearance.
Wüste: A desert or barren wasteland with very little vegetation.
öffnete: Past tense of 'öffnen'; opened a door or passage.
erste: Ordinal adjective meaning 'first' in a sequence.
Tür: A door used to enter or exit a room.
erreichte: Past tense of 'erreichen'; reached or arrived at a destination.
Zwei: The number two; a pair of something or someone.
Frauen: Plural of 'Frau'; women or adult female persons.
dick: Adjective meaning fat, thick, or stout in build.
andere: Adjective or pronoun meaning 'other' or 'another one'.
schlank: Adjective meaning slim, slender, or lean in figure.
saßen: Past tense plural of 'sitzen'; were seated or sitting.
auf: Preposition meaning 'on', 'upon', or 'at'.
Stühlen: Dative plural of 'Stuhl'; chairs used for sitting.
Strohgeflecht: Woven straw material used as seat covering on chairs.
strickten: Past tense plural of 'stricken'; were knitting with needles.
schwarze: Adjective meaning black in color, used attributively.
Wolle: Wool yarn used for knitting or weaving textiles.
Die: Definite article for feminine nouns or plural; 'the'.
Schlanke: Nominalized adjective meaning 'the slender one' or slim woman.
stand: Past tense of 'stehen'; stood or was standing upright.
geradewegs: Adverb meaning straight away, directly, or without detour.
strickend: Present participle of 'stricken'; knitting while doing something else.
gesenkten: Past participle adjective of 'senken'; lowered or cast downward.
Augen: Plural of 'Auge'; eyes as organs of sight.
erst: Adverb meaning 'only', 'first', or 'not until'.
als: Conjunction meaning 'when', 'as', or 'than' in comparison.
gerade: Adverb meaning 'just', 'right now', or 'straight'.
daran: Contraction of 'da' and 'an'; thereon or about that.
dachte: Past tense of 'denken'; thought or was thinking about something.
ihr: Pronoun meaning 'her' or second person plural 'you'.
aus: Preposition meaning 'out of', 'from', or 'made of'.
Weg: A path, way, or road to travel along.
gehen: To go or walk from one place to another.
man: Indefinite pronoun meaning 'one', 'you', or 'people' generally.
es: Neuter pronoun meaning 'it'; refers to neuter nouns.
bei: Preposition meaning 'at', 'near', 'with', or 'in the case of'.
Schlafwandlerin: A female sleepwalker who moves unconsciously during sleep.
täte: Subjunctive past form of 'tun'; would do as if.
blieb: Past tense of 'bleiben'; stayed, remained, or stopped moving.
sie: Pronoun meaning 'she', 'they', or formal 'you'.
stehen: To stand or remain in an upright position.
blickte: Past tense of 'blicken'; glanced or looked at something briefly.
Ihr: Possessive pronoun meaning 'her', 'their', or formal 'your'.
Kleid: A dress or garment worn by a woman.
schlicht: Adjective meaning plain, simple, or without ornamentation.
drehte: Past tense of 'drehen'; turned or rotated in a direction.
sich: Reflexive pronoun meaning 'herself', 'himself', 'itself', or 'themselves'.
ohne: Preposition meaning 'without' lacking something or someone.
Wort: A word or spoken utterance in language.
ging: Past tense of 'gehen'; went or walked somewhere.
mir: Dative form of 'ich'; to me or for me.
Wartezimmer: A waiting room where people sit before an appointment.
voraus: Adverb meaning 'ahead', 'in advance', or 'in front'.
nannte: Past tense of 'nennen'; named, called, or mentioned by name.
Namen: Accusative or genitive of 'Name'; name or names of persons.
schaute: Past tense of 'schauen'; looked at or gazed at something.

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